TRIPLE Crown hero Scott Williams has won the battle to take over from the crocked Jamie Roberts for the first Test against the wounded Wallabies.

The Scarlets centre gets the nod ahead of the in-form Ashley Beck and the versatile James Hook at No 12 for the all-important series opener at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Williams, who scored a Crown-clinching try against England at Twickenham as a super-sub in February, is partnered in midfield by his regional team-mate Jonathan Davies – both players having recovered from the injuries that made them tour doubts at one stage.

Uncapped Osprey Beck is the only member of the 16-strong party which travelled out to Australia in advance last week to miss out on a starting spot.

He is named on the bench, alongside six players who featured in last Saturday’s 30-21 victory over the Barbarians, including try-scoring match-winner Hook.

With Lions star Roberts ruled out of the Australia tour following knee surgery and injury concerns over both Williams (shoulder) and Davies (groin), the make-up of the midfield was always going to be a key issue.

The form of Beck and adaptability of Hook added to the equation but, in the end, it’s the 12-times capped Williams who joins fellow Scarlet Davies in the centre against an Australian side smarting from Tuesday’s 9-6 defeat to Scotland in Newcastle.

The inclusion of the 21-year-old Williams in place of the sidelined Roberts is one of four changes from the team that completed the Grand Slam with a 16-9 victory over France in March.

As expected, Ken Owens replaces Scarlet colleague Matthew Rees at hooker, a switch indicated by his inclusion in the advance party ahead of Rees, who captained Wales against the Baa-Baas.

It’s all change in the second row with Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris replacing Ospreys duo Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones, who have both had wedding commitments.

Evans gets married in Greece today and will join the rest of the tour party this weekend.

Jones was unable to travel with the advance group as he was attending his sister’s wedding, so is restricted to a bench spot.